Taunton fire inspector warns of 'unprotected' temporary City Hall

The temporary city hall on Oak Street is “unprotected” against the threat of fire, according to a high-ranking fire official.

In a letter this week to the City Council’s public properties committee, Taunton fire Capt. Robert Bastis put the city on notice that it has 120 days to undertake major improvements and upgrades to the building’s smoke detector system.

The temporary city hall on Oak Street is “unprotected” against the threat of fire, according to a high-ranking fire official.

In a letter this week to the City Council’s public properties committee, Taunton fire Capt. Robert Bastis put the city on notice that it has 120 days to undertake major improvements and upgrades to the building’s smoke detector system.

Bastis, also the city’s fire inspector, writes that the city “must install smoke detection with audio/visual notification in common hallways,” as well as in the boiler and electrical rooms.

This week’s City Council meeting is being held Monday at 7:30 a.m. instead of Tuesday night, so as not to conflict with local elections.

For more than three years, city government has been run out of the former Lowell M. Maxham School, after an arsonist set a fire in the attic of the downtown City Hall at 15 Summer St.

Bastis says he’s frustrated that smoke detectors have taken a back seat to other improvements made to the former elementary school — such as plumbing, handicap-accessible ramps, roof repairs and “aesthetic upgrades.”

“It’s time to draw a line in the sand,” he said.

In his letter, Bastis cites state law mandating a fire department “make such orders to provide adequate safety requirements for the protection of the public in the event of fire.”

The single-story building, he said, has a basic, radio-box system that sends a signal to the fire department when one of its detectors senses the presence of smoke. It also sounds a loud horn.

Bastis said the building lacks “audio and visual” alarm capability, including strobe lights and other contemporary alarm features.

“It’s antiquated,” he said, adding “there are little to no detectors. In that way it’s similar to old city hall.”

Bastis said the fire department until now has “laid low” and been cooperative by making “informal requests” for upgrades. But he said he’s not willing to wait indefinitely. And he said he has the full backing of Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw.

Bastis added, “We’ve taken a back seat to the cosmetics and other improvements they’ve made to the building,” which was built in the 1950s.

Because of the building’s age and its original use as a school, the city is not required to install a sprinkler system, he said.

Building Department Superintendent Wayne Walkden said he’s sympathetic to Bastis’s concerns.“I’m in agreement with him and the chief,” he said. “I asked for it long ago.”

Walkden said he’s prepared to assign men from his department to do the installation in-house. But he said he knows it won’t be easy due to budgetary and manpower constraints.

Page 2 of 2 - “I’ve assured him (Bastis) that once the treasurer’s office is in, then we’ll tackle it,” said Walkden, referring to new offices being built inside Maxham to accommodate the tax collector’s office — which since the fire has operated out of a TMLP building on Weir Street.

“But,” he warned, “we only have so much manpower.”

Notwithstanding those challenges, Walkden insists that “this is the time to do it.”

He says former Fire Chief Russell Bradshaw, Timothy’s father, has indicated a willingness to volunteer his time and expertise to the improvement project.

Walkden said that sort of help would be greatly appreciated. He notes the city currently can’t afford the $70,000 it previously spent installing a new “full-blown system” at the Edmund Hatch Bennett School.